The Science Behind That Fabulous New-Car Smell

What does give automobiles that delicious scent, and where can buy it? Do they make an aftershave?

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Chemicals — "hundreds of different chemicals that are contained in car-interior components," according to Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center's HealthyCar.org research director. "They range from smells you would more commonly associate with paints and solvents to adhesives. It's really a complex chemical cocktail mixture from all these multiple sources that you smell floating around in the air."

Paul Dan Schneider, VP of marketing for Chemical Guys, whose new-car air freshener is designed to mimic the new-car scent, notes, "If you go to a factory, you'll notice most people who assemble cars wear a mask. They have a mask because they're constantly made to smell that new-car smell. That smell is not necessarily healthy for you. Most of those odors are VOCs, volatile organic compounds. All of our fragrances are naturally derived, combined to emulate a new-car smell without being bad for you."

Lane Pietro, whose Lane's Car Products also offers new-car and leather-scented air fresheners, does not recommend using his products on your face: "No, no, no," he warns. Nor does Mr. Schneider: "Definitely not." Which leaves Quaker State 5W30 as an automotive aftershave option.